Geek Art: Ink Pen Illustrations Created Using A Math Equation

Hmm… These are very unusual. I can’t decide if it’s brilliant art or the work of someone with a serious case of OCD. They kind of look like big balls of fuzz to me, like something that might come out of my dryer stuck in the lint trap.

I was surprised to find out that there is much more going on with these ink pen illustrations than meets the eye. The artist, Thomas Briggs, uses a formula in fact. According to Triangulation Blog, “Briggs uses a mathematical description of a very small and self-contained linear gestural element. The base unit of action can be iterated by the thousands, each line unique in its path…” Wow, it turns these are a bit geeky after all!

Thomas feels that his method allows him more control than if he used algorithmic or fractal mathematics. The actual illustrations are a minimum of three feet square. In order to get them online, they are reduced by 99%. I would love to see one of these in person! This is so fascinating, and it’s another example of how we use math in our everyday life, constantly. However, these particular illustrations are still a little OCD in my mind, not that there is anything wrong with that!  You can see even more abstract and colorful examples on the Thomas Briggs website.